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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. R. HILTON 8v J. E. WILSON.

GLAM 0R OYSTER BAKE ORDREDGB. No. 484,715. lPatent rn: News versus cm. mmu'mu., kummcu, n. c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. R. HILTON 8v J.IE. WILSON. GLAM 0R OYSTER MKB 0R DREDGE.

N0. 484,715. Patented G. 18, 1892.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFEiCE.

HENRY R. HILTON, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, AND JAMES E. WILSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CLAM OR OYSTER RAKE OR DREDGE.

5133534221FICATIONv forming part of Letters Patent No. 484,715, dated October 18, 1892.

Application led August l, 1891. Serial No. 401.437. (No model.)

.To all whoml it may concern: i/V may represent a scow or other Water- Be it known that we, HENRY R. HILTON, of craft. Jersey City, county of Hudson, State of New A A is the frame of the machine, shown as Jersey, and JAMES E. WILSON, of New York, constructed of ordinary waterpiping,braced county and State of New York, citizens of with rods, and supporting at its ends and at 55 the United States, have jointly invented a an intermediate point shafts aa a, the lastnew and useful Clam or Oyster Rake or named preferably non-rotative. On this shaft Dredge, of which the following is a specifithe revolving parts are sleeved. The intercation. mediate shaft a also serves as the axis of a ro Our invention belongs to the class of dredghinge, for the purposes hereinafter explained. 6o

ling and excavating devices which employ a b b b are sprocket-wheels. series of rakes or scoops attached to one or B B are endless chains or belts, of which more endless chains which are stretched the chains B carry a series of forwardly around sprocket-wheels rotated by any suitpointing or directed rakes, scoops, or combs O able power. by means of sockets or ears @,attached to the 65 Our invention relates to a provision to enlinks of said chain. These sockets constitute able the gathering and raising from oceanbearings for the rake-trunnions c. beds or water bottoms of any substances 0 represents a grated back, which while lying thereupon or embedded therein, the permitting escape of mud and water serves zo provision being more particularly intended to retain the oysters or other matter which it 7o for the gathering of clams and oysters. is desired to elevate.

Our invention can also be utilized for scari- Sleeved upon shaft a are side cams D', fying or cultivating such bed-surface preconnected by the sleeve D. The oiice of these paratory to the planting of oysters or other cams is to control the position to be assumed shell-fish therein. by the rakes while passing around the lower 75 Referring to the accompanying drawings, sprocket-Wheels b, being drawn by the endwhich form a part of this specitication, Figless chain to which they are journaled. ure 1 is a side elevation oi' an apparatus em- By reference to Figs. 4, 5, 6, 13, 14, and 15 bodying a simple form of our invention. Fig. it will be seen that the trunnions c form the 2 is a front elevation ofthe same, the endless axes about which each rake is at liberty to 8o chains and their attached rakes being omitvibrate upward in said sockets, but is preted. Fig. 3 is an inside view of one of the vented from depression below a horizontal rake-deiecting cams. Fig. 4 is a front View position in its loaded and ascending condiof one of the rakes and portions of the cartion by stops or lugs c on the sockets against rying-chains. Fig. 5 is a side view of a rakewhich the rake-arms f are brought to rest. 85 tooth. Fig. 6 is a top view of the same. Fig. In order to secure the desired vibration, each 7 is a side view showing foot and colter atrake has two arms f, that terminate with intachments. Fig. 8 is a front View of said colwardly-extending lugs g, which occupy eccenter and foot. Fig. 9 represents amoditication tric grooves d in the cams D', and thus serve 4o 'of the cam adjusting and locking mechanism. to direct the rake-points so as first to secure 9o Fig. 10 shows by side elevation a form of our the proper penetration of the sea-bed and then dredge slightly differing from that shown in to emerge from the bed in the horizontal po- Fig. 1. Fig. 11 is a front elevation of the sition best adapted to retain and carry up the boot of such dredge, omitting the rakes. load or take thus collected. (See Figs. 1

Fig. 12 is a top view of a rake. Fig. 13 is and 3.)

an inner side View of one of the rakes in its To enable the person in charge to adjust socket, together with a portion of one of the the cams D for a greater or less rake peneendless chains. Fig. 14 is a top view of the tration while the boot is submerged, We prosame. Fig. 15 represents the rake in an upvide the following means: H is a shaft sup- 5o tipped position. ported in bearings in the plane of shafts roo a a," and carrying at its lower end bevelpinion 7L, which engages with bevel-gear h', which is rigidly attached to the shaft 0, carrying sleeve D. The shaft H carries at its upper end a like bevel-pinion t', which engages in a cogged segment j, that can be made fast to the frame by means of an arm la, which carries a nutted bolt Z, that traverses a slotted plate m upon the frame.

The shaft ct and its attached sprocketwheels b are driven by any suitable meanssuch as chain or belt connection Z-either with a hand-winch X, Fig. 1, or with a steamengine X', Fig. l0, which may be the engine which is employed to propel the scow W through the instrumentality of any suitable propeller O, the scow being kept head-on by a rudder Q.

In the form above described the contents of the rakes may be removed by an instrument in the hands of an attendant, as shown in Fig. l.

The above-described form or type of our invention is susceptible of various modifications. For example, there may (see Fig. 10) be a forward extension 'l of the frame which carries the shaft a, that does duty as the hinge between the two main parts of the frame. Associated with this are two additional shafts a" aw, which carry idle sprocket-wheels b" bw. Indentations bv in the periphery of the sprocket-wheel 111V permit the passage of the rake-sockets in the manner shown. By this arrangement the rake-chains as they reach the point of discharge are deliected forward and downward, as shown in Fig. l0, so as to dump or discharge the take onto a suitable chute w, which conducts the matters into the scow. A crane U, furnished with suitable tackle Y, enables the person in charge to suspend the machine at any desired height and position. In some cases an adjustable foot or drag R (having, preferably, the transversely-concave sole r) may be employed to limit the penetration of the rakes. Both foot and a colter,to be hereinafter described, may be attached to and adjusted simultaneously with the gearing h', as shown in Fig. 7, or, as shown in Fig. 10, said foot may depend from an arm n, that vibrates loosely about shaft a, and be forced and held downward by a rod p, whose upper end bears against a nut q on a screw r upon the shaft H.

S, Fig. 7, shows a colter, also. adjustable, which may be associated with such foot.

i', Fig. 9, shows a worm movement for use instead of the part-s ij 7o Z m.

The operation of the machine is as follows: lt beingplaced in position as shown in Fig. 1, the lower or boot end resting upon the surface of water bottom, sufficient weight having attached to it to resist the thrust of the rakes, the upper or boat end being attached to a suitable frame on said boat or float, the outboard or hinged portion being supported by suitable rigging Y, power is applied by means of a hand-winch, a steam-engine crankshaft, or any other convenient rotary motion to sprocket-wheel E, thence via endless chain or belt B in the direction indicated by arrows, and through shaft a to the endless chain or belts B', carrying rakes or combs c c, &c. As the rakes approach cams D D the lugs g g enter the cam-grooves, thus converging or diverging the points, as may be most desirable. Straight line 0 represents the bed-surface, upon which-thebootrests. Dotted lines P represent the depth below said surface to which it is desired the rake-teeth shall penetrate. Should it be desirable to thrust the blades or teeth of the rakes to a greater or less distance below the surface, it is accomplished by adjustment of cams D D', as explained above. The position of the cam-grooves in relation to the center of rotation of the rakes s such that the rake-teeth assume nearly a horizontal position as they pass the lower center and remain in that position through the remainderof theirrevolution aboutthe sprocketwheels b. Said teeth are thus caused to penetrate the ground, and by remaining in such relative position whatever they may have gathered is elevated and delivered above the surface of the water. Clams lie a few inches under the surface; oysters on the surface; roots of vegetables penetrate below the surface. Much refuse is often on the surface, and by the means of the adjustment above described the take of the rakes is at all times. under the control of the operator. A forward movement of the float, as indicated by arrow, carries forward the machine, which, being weighted at the bottom, will always preserve about the same relative position. It being hinged, rise or fall of the tide, waves, or greater or less depth of water within certain limits is provided for. TheV main frame may be made extensible and by lengthening or shortening the same, as well as the chains or belts, as great range of depths may be provided for as desirable.

For use on mud bottom when the boot end would be liable to sink too deep it is proposed to attach a shoe or foot R t0 the frame eX- tending to the rear of thev boot, which, dragging on the bed and covering a large surface, shall prevent deeper penetration than is desired. It may be found desirable in some cases to also attach to the lowerend of the frame suitable blades, preferably in the form o f revolving disks or colters S, which s hall be extended ahead of the general movement of the` machine to cut the ground to. depth being worked, the same as is used on turfplows. The said shoe R and colters S are preferably arranged and connected to the foot-frame in the manner shown in Figs-Z and 8 or as in Figs. 10 and 11.

Having thus described our invention, the following is what we claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. The combination, with ar self-propelled scow, of a rotary submarine rake or dredge having the frames, substantially as shown and IOO IIO

described, with endless chains armed with tines which engage the Water bed in the direction of travel of the scoW, constructed and operated substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the hinged frame A A with a rotary dredge or elevator in which the positions of the buckets, rakes, or combs are controlled by the cam or cams D Within the boot of same, substantially as described.

3. In a rotary dredge or elevator, the combination of the hinged frame A A', the endless elevator having teeth adjustable in pitch or angular presentation with the adjustable cam or cams, substantially as described.

4. In a rotary dredge or elevator, the combination,witl1 a scoW, of the hinged frame A A', the endless chain or belts B, armed With tines, rakes, or combs c c, pointed in direction of travel of the scoW, and the adjustable cam or cams D', substantially as described.

5. In a rotary dredge or elevator, the combination of hinged frame AA endless chain or belts B, the forwardly-directed rakes or combs c, cam or cams D D', operating-gears h and h', shaft H, pinion t', and segment j, substantially for the purpose as described.

G. In a submarine dredge or elevator, the combination of the .frameA A endless chain or belt B, and forwardly-directed rakes, teeth, or combs c, With the arms f and the stops c, substantially as described.

7. In a submarine dredge or rake, the combination of the frame AA and the endless revolving chains armed with tines, With the foot or drag attached to the lower end of the frame, for the purposes set forth.

8. In a submarine dredge or rake, the coinbination, With a scoW, of the frame A A', rotatable endless chains armed With tines, and the cutting disks or colters, substantially as described.

9. In a submarine dredge, the combination, with a supporting and dragging scoW provided with frame A A and belt B, of the boot or outer hinged frame having the forward and downward projection T, in combination with the rake-bearing chains B', the driving sprocket-Wheel b', and the idlers 6 Z2.

l0. In a submarine dredge having the supporting and dragging scow, the combination of the frame AA', the belt B, the endless elevator B', having forwardly-directed teeth or tines C, shaft a,l0oselyvibrating arm n, rod p, nut q, and screw-threaded shaft H r.

1l. In an oyster-dredge, the combination of the frame AA,belt B, endless chains B having the forwardly-directed teeth or tines C, the attached sockets c, having stops or lugs c, and the vibratable rakes C, having arms f.

l2. In combination With the oyster-dredge, substantially as hereinbefo re shown, the boot, and the foot R, having transversely-concave sole r.

HENRY R. HILTON. JAMES E. WILSON. Witnesses:

GEO. H. KNIGHT, HARRY E. KNIGHT. 

